For years I’ve had a very specific vision for my bedroom. I wanted it to look similar to the rooms I saw in movies and musicals from the 1930s and 1940s. I describe it as a blend of Art Deco, Hollywood glamour and Manhattan penthouse. It’s still a work in progress as my vision is quite pricey and I’m trying to stay true to it within a practical budget. This chest, that resembles stacked steamer trunks, is one of the ways I let myself indulge.

I LOVE this piece. Not a day goes by that I don’t look at it appreciatively. It’s the first thing I see when I enter the room.  It’s functional and stylish–roomy for a small space. Looks a little bit old yet also modern, and it’s not too girly or too masculine. It’s the first real piece of furniture, quality furniture, I’ve purchased. I lived with the same $200 particle-board bedroom furniture for 20 years. It was time for me to indulge.

If you look closely, you’ll see me up top, surrounded by acting royalty–Josephine Baker and Dorothy Dandridge.